What was Tiananmen used for in ancient times?

Purpose: To hold major events, such as the issuance of edicts, the enthronement of new emperors, weddings, etc.

Tiananmen Square was the place where the emperor issued edicts in the Ming and Qing dynasties, known as the "Golden Phoenix Issuing Edicts". It was used for major celebrations such as the new emperor's enthronement, weddings, and the emperor's parents entering the palace. To enable Tiananmen.

Only when offering sacrifices to heaven, earth and grain every year, one can enter and exit through this door. In addition, major ceremonies such as the emperor's wedding, generals sacrificing flags when they go on expeditions, imperial chariots offering sacrifices to roads during personal expeditions, and the autumn trials of the Ministry of Punishment are also held here. At the same time, it is also the place for "Jindian Chuanlu".

Extended information

The origin of the name Tiananmen

1. Tiananmen was built in the 15th year of Yongle (1417) in the Ming Dynasty and was originally named "Chengtianmen". When built, it completely imitated the Chengtian Gate in Nanjing, so it was named Chengtian Gate. It means "inheriting destiny and receiving orders from heaven". The designer was Kuai Xiang, a royal architect of the Ming Dynasty.

2. In the first year of Tomorrow Shun (1456), Chengtian Gate was struck by lightning and caught fire and was burned down. In the first year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty (1465), Bai Gui, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, presided over the reconstruction of Chengtian Gate designed and led by Kuai Xiang. The transformation from archway style to palace style also established the shape of Tiananmen today.

3. In the 17th year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty (1644), Li Zicheng's army invaded Beijing and Chengtian Gate was destroyed again. Chengtianmen was rebuilt again the following year.

4. In the eighth year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1651), Fulin, the founder of the Qing Dynasty, ordered large-scale reconstruction on the ruins of the original site and renamed it "Tiananmen", which means "mandated by heaven to secure and govern the country" .

Baidu Encyclopedia-Tiananmen